William Donald Schaefer

William Donald Schaefer
Name	William Donald Schaefer
Caption	Schaefer in 1999
Order	58th
Office	Governor of Maryland
Lieutenant	Melvin Steinberg
Term start	January 21, 1987
Term end	January 18, 1995
Predecessor	Harry Hughes
Successor	Parris Glendening
Order2	44th
Office2	Mayor of Baltimore
Term start2	December 1971
Term end2	January 1987
Predecessor2	Thomas D'Alesandro III
Successor2	Clarence "Du" Burns
Order3	Comptroller of Maryland
Term start3	January 1999
Term end3	January 2007
Predecessor3	Louis L. Goldstein
Successor3	Peter Franchot
Birth date	2 November 1921
Birth place	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Death date	18 April 2011
Death place	Catonsville, Maryland, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Baltimore (LLB)
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1942–1945
Battles	World War II

William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served as the 44th Mayor of Baltimore, the 58th Governor of Maryland, and Comptroller of Maryland. A member of the Democratic Party, he was renowned for his hands-on, often blunt leadership style and his transformative impact on Baltimore's urban landscape during the late 20th century. His career, spanning over five decades in Maryland politics, was defined by a relentless focus on public works, downtown revitalization, and a famously direct relationship with constituents.

Early life and education

Born in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore, Schaefer was the son of a postal worker and attended Baltimore City Public Schools, graduating from the Baltimore City College. He served in the United States Army during World War II, seeing duty in the European Theater. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Baltimore School of Law and was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1949, practicing law in the city. His early involvement in civic affairs included membership in the Baltimore City Council, where he represented the Sixth District beginning in 1955.

Political career

Schaefer's political career was almost entirely confined to Maryland state and local government. After over a decade on the Baltimore City Council, he was elected President of the Baltimore City Council in 1967. He ascended to the mayoralty in December 1971 following the resignation of Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro III, winning his first full term in 1975. His successful tenure as mayor propelled him to the governorship in 1986, and after two terms, he later served two terms as Comptroller of Maryland. Throughout, he was known for his alliance with powerful Maryland General Assembly leaders like Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and his frequent, colorful clashes with the press.

Mayor of Baltimore

As mayor from 1971 to 1987, Schaefer presided over a dramatic, bricks-and-mortar renaissance of downtown Baltimore. His administration, often in partnership with the Baltimore Development Corporation, championed major projects like the Inner Harbor redevelopment, which included the construction of the National Aquarium, the Baltimore Convention Center, and Harborplace. He aggressively pursued the return of a Major League Baseball franchise, resulting in the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. His hands-on approach was epitomized by stunts like plunging into the seal pool at the Aquarium in a Victorian bathing suit to promote its opening.

Governor of Maryland

Elected in 1986, Schaefer served as governor from 1987 to 1995. His administration focused on large-scale infrastructure and education initiatives, including a major expansion of the University System of Maryland and the launch of the Maryland School for the Arts. He championed the "Reach the Beach" program to extend Interstate 68 to Western Maryland and oversaw significant budget increases during the early 1990s recession, leading to conflicts with the General Assembly. His tenure was also marked by the savings and loan crisis, which involved the collapse of Old Court Savings and Loan and required state intervention.

Comptroller of Maryland

After a brief retirement, Schaefer was elected Comptroller of Maryland in 1998, succeeding the long-serving Louis L. Goldstein. Serving on the powerful Board of Public Works alongside the governor and state treasurer, he was a vocal and unpredictable member, frequently scrutinizing state contracts and agency spending. His later terms were controversial, featuring reprimands from the State Ethics Commission and public remarks that drew accusations of insensitivity, contributing to his defeat in the 2006 Democratic primary by Peter Franchot.

Later life and death

Following his departure from public office, Schaefer lived in Baltimore County and remained an occasional commentator on state politics. His health declined in his final years, and he died of complications from pneumonia at the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville in April 2011. He was interred at the Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville. His legacy is physically etched into Baltimore, with numerous facilities bearing his name, including the William Donald Schaefer Building in Baltimore and the award for state employee excellence.

Category:1921 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Governors of Maryland Category:Mayors of Baltimore Category:University of Baltimore alumni